Compare towns

Norwich vs Windham vs Stratham vs Hartford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the youngest population (median age 40.8).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureNorwichWindhamStrathamHartford
People
Population
3,640Lowest
16,038Highest
7,754
10,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
43.2±3.9Highest
11% above U.S.
Hartford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
18%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hartford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hartford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$151,998±$20k
88% above U.S.
$78,125±$7kLowest
3% below U.S.
Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$655,400±$36k
97% above U.S.
$304,500±$26kLowest
8% below U.S.
Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$2,511±$377
78% above U.S.
$1,218±$118Lowest
14% below U.S.
Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,781
214% above U.S.
$5,773Lowest
85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
28% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
18 minLowest
30% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #1 of 70 in VT #13 of 120 in NH #43 of 120 in NH #34 of 70 in VT
School district Norwich School District Windham School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Hartford School District
High school in town None in town Windham High School None in town Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Highest
—
9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.